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TE AWAMUTU. Departure of the Rev. Mr Phillips.

Mr Phillips preached bis farewell sermon on Sunday morning, taking bis text from the 20th Chapter of " Acts. And now bretlircn I couunond you to God, and to the word of His graco, which ia able to build you up, ;md to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.*' Mr Phillips considered it not out of place to remind his congregation that it was the custom of the Apostles to make a formal adieu to their congregations when leaving them. The word-» of the text were used by S. Paul to the congregation of the Church at Ephosus, and were something more than the mere bidding of good-bye in the common acceptation of the tm'in, which is only a temporary farewell. In commending them to God and the word of His grace he did so as a final farewell, and in the same sp*rit the preicher now commended his congio/ation to God. In those days S. Pml was in danger at Ephcsus from the heathens who created a great uproar when lie preached Christ crucified and the resurrection from the dead. Wore thcie no heathens now-a-days ? Do all who he ir the name of Christ do so in a reverent manner and with a meek and loving spirit ? He feared not. The love oi husband and wife, fathar and child, was given by Cluist and we should love Him who inspired us with this love. All nets of loving kindness to our fellow men are prompted by Him. He is standing constantly by our side, and when we give way to our feelings of anger against our fellow creatures He is pained and grieved, and as He has done .so much for u« we should do a little for Him by doing nothing to displease Him. In saying farewell, he iui preyed upon hi 3 hearers the nece-;->ity of cultivating a love for God and His Church; let them do so by laying one another e\en as he loved them. They were their biothers' keepers just a.s much as Cain was Abel's keeper, and it waa their duty to take an interest in the spiritual welfare of their fellow men. Fie would not speak on doctrinal points that morning, but he would s.iy a wjrd abjut Predestination. To some this subject was not by any means clear, but it was as clear as day to hi-* mind. God put every man, woman and child on this eaith for the purpose of peopling Heaven, but with this proviso : He gave them fieo will ; and they should ask Him to nuke their wills subservient to His. If any one of them failed to reach Heaven it was not because God id not just, but because they had not done His will. It was not God's condemnation, but their own fault. He made them not to go to hell, but to go to Heaven. Partings weie only for a few years, at last we should meet our loved ones and friends in God's kingdom. He hoped to meet hi* hearers there before the throne of God, and he felt sure they all wished to see him there also. Ho earnestly prayed that they might so live that they would occupy a placo in Heaven. They should not despise the small duties they owed to God, or think that they could do too much for His service, for it is in performing those duties that they were doing His work and preparing themselves for Heaven— Hea\ en which isChiist's home; and what higher inducement could they have to try and attain it than the knowledge that it is Christ's homo ? Mr Phillips concluded a most impressive sermon by expressing an earnest hope that they should all meet before the throne of God, and that not one of them should be missing. He bespoke for his successor, whoever he may be, the earnest co-operation and assistance of the congregation in doing the work of the Church.— (Own Correspondent.)

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WT18860105.2.17

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2105, 5 January 1886, Page 2

Word count
Tapeke kupu
674

TE AWAMUTU. Departure of the Rev. Mr Phillips. Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2105, 5 January 1886, Page 2

TE AWAMUTU. Departure of the Rev. Mr Phillips. Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2105, 5 January 1886, Page 2

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